Cortiva (ARA) - As unemployment rises, many Americans are realizing the importance of having a career that's fulfilling as well as lucrative. When layoffs are announced, many people feel they have nothing left to lose, and take the opportunity to pursue what they love. This has fueled a growth in the number of people going back to school to become massage therapists -- a career with strong job security and great potential.

Employment for massage therapists is expected to increase up to 20 percent by 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In mid 2008, according to the American Massage Therapy Association, at least 45 percent of women and 21 percent of men reported having a massage during the past five years. And as economic stress increases, consumer demand for relaxing and revitalizing services such as massage therapy rises. Eighty-eight percent of adults agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain and 87 percent think that massage is beneficial to health and wellness.

Ron Maslovsky of Chicago, Ill., spent 23 years in corporate sales and, in 2007, began to feel unfulfilled. In 2008, he reevaluated his priorities and realized what would make him truly happy was enhancing the health and wellness of his community through massage therapy.

"Americans are overworked, stressed and ignoring the most important thing in life, their personal health," says Maslovsky. "Massage therapy is not just a treat you give yourself or a loved one on a special occasion, it is designed to extend our lives and comfort us through ailments and injuries -- emotionally, physically and psychologically."

Maslovsky says that since he's started working toward his diploma in massage therapy at Cortiva Institute, he is happier and experiences less stress, despite the fact that he's using some of his retirement savings to go back to school full time. Upon graduation, he plans to open his own massage therapy practice as well as another company to promote corporate massages. He also plans to volunteer his services to the elderly at local nursing homes.

"I have never regretted my decision and I have never looked back," Maslovsky says. "It is by far the smartest thing I have ever done in my life."

According to the AMTA, the average massage therapist is most likely to enter the profession as a second career and is in their early 40s, making massage therapy classes and programs a comfortable place for people changing paths mid career.

If you're considering going back to school to work towards a career in massage therapy, there are several things to consider, according to Dina Boon, president, Cortiva Institute - Seattle. Do your research and look for an accredited school, find out how comprehensive the program is and about faculty background and specialization. "Talk to or, even better, receive a massage from one of the graduates of the program," she says.

"School is a new and refreshing adventure that brings a lot of happiness to my day-to-day life," says Russell Morgan, a Cortiva student from Chicago, Ill. "I have an attainable goal in sight and have made the decision to start telling myself 'yes' as opposed to constantly only doing for others."

For more information on a career in massage therapy and to learn more about Cortiva Institute, visit www.Cortiva.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent